Spring plankless truck



Jan. 30, 1940. R. s. COTTRELL 2,188,641

SPRING PLANKLESS TRUCK Filed March 15, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 g/lllllllllllll IVIIfI/IIII Jan. 30, 1940. R. B. COTTRELL SPRING PLANKLESS TRUCK Filed March 15, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 llvflltrllhwul Ms mm 8 0 wm W m w hm +1 T r Jan. 30, 1940. co 2,188,641

SPRING PLANKLES S TRUCK 50/1 /15. Cali/ell,

v MM W Patented Jan. 30, 1 94 PATENT OFFICE SPRING PLANKLESS TRUCK Robert B. Cottrell, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., acor-' poration of New Jersey Application March 15, 1938, Serial No. 196,036

28 Claims. (Cl. 105-1912) 'My invention relates to four wheel railway trucks of the type generally designated spring plankless wherein the manner of cooperation between the side frame and the bolster is such as to eliminate the necessity for the frequently used spring plank as a means of tying together the spaced side frames.

My invention comprehends a means of cooperation between such a side frame and bolster as will permit removal of the bolster end from cooperation with the side frame without disturbing the spring assemblies, thus permitting a quick wheel change.

A further object of my inventionis to design 15 a four wheel railway truck wherein will be used a novel means of connection and interlocking between the bolster end and the columns of the side frame.

Yet another object of my invention is to deand a method of cooperation between said means and said bolster and side frame as will prevent loss of the parts of said interloclnng means in case of breakage.

My invention also contemplates a quick wheel change type of spring plankless truck, all parts of which are designed to facilitate the manufacturing process and to accommodate the most practicable foundry methods. I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a four wheel truck embodying. my invention, only one half of the truck being shown;

Figure 2 is an end view of the truck, partly in section, the view showing the side elevation of one half of the bolster and a section through the side frame substantially in the vertical plane bisecting the truck transversely;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of my novel truck structure, partly in section, the section being taken through the side frame in a horizontal plane adjacent the top of the column guides;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of my novel bolster structure, half in section, the section being taken substantially in the vertical plane bisecting the bolster longitudinally;

55 Figure 5 is a plan view of said bolster, the right half thereof showing the top plan and the left half showing the bottom plan thereof;

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the end of my novel bolster, the section being taken vise a novel form of bolster capable of passing transversely through the bolster end and substantially in the vertical plane as indicated by the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an end view of my novel bolster structure;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the interlocking insert forming the means of cooperation between the side frame and the bolster; Figure 9 is a side elevation and Figure 10 is anend elevation thereof.

Describing my novel structure in more detail and referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 3, the side frame 2 is of the truss type having the compression member 4 and the tension member 6 merging adjacent their ends with the integrally formed journal box 8 forming the usual means of connection with the wheel and axle assembly l0. Integraliy formed with the tension and compression members are the columns I2 defining with said tension and compression members the window opening l4 for the reception of the end of the bolster i6. Below the window opening the tension member is a box-like section as best seen at ill in the sectional view of Figure 2, the upper chord of which has the upstanding inner and outer flanges and 22 defining the lateral dimensions of the spring seat 24 on which may be seated in the usual manner resilient means diagrammatically indicated at 26, 26, the end of said bolster I 6 being seated thereon in the usual manner. Each of the side frame columns has the centrallylocated guide flange 28 the form of which, as well as the spaced cylindrical surfaces formed on the-inner faces of the columns laterally of said flange 28, is best seen from a consideration of Figure 3. The form and detail of the side frame 2 is identical with that shown and described moreparticularly in my co-pending application Serial No. 196,035, filed in the. United States Patent Ofllce of even date herewith.- The tops of the guide flanges 28 are spaced a distance, A, below the bottom face of the compression member as indicated in Figure 1, said distance being somewhat greater than the vertical depth B of the widest portion of the bolster end as hereinafter more fully described. Centrally formed on the lateral edges of the widened portion of the bolster end are the channels 32, 32 complementary in shape to the column flanges 28, 28 and on either side of said channel 32, 32 the side walls of the bolster end are of cylindrical formation complementary in shape to the abutting surfaces of the side frame columns as best seen at 3|, 34 (Figure 3). Seated on top of the resilient means 26 and received in a shallow recess, 29, on the bottom face of the bolster end is the insert or manner hereinafter to be more particularly described.

Figures 4 to 7, inclusive. The central portion of the bolster is a boxlike structure of well known form having the lateral walls 38, 38 and the substantially horizontal top chord 38 on the central portion of which is formed the usual center bearing 40 having cooperation with a complementary bearing on the car body. Adjacent the ends of said top chord are formed the usual side bearings 42, 42. The central portion 44 of the bottom chord is substantially horizontal but, the

- end portions 48, 48 are diagonally arranged, said top and bottom chords merging with the rer inforcing center post 48 and the vertical ribs 80, Ill underlying the side bearings 42, 42. Aligned openings 82, 52 are formed in the side walls 38 and in the center post 48 as passageways for brake rods in a manner well known to the art. The downwardly projecting laterally extending flange 84 on the bottom of the bolster beneath the center post may form a support for a brake beam safety bar which may be riveted or otherwise secured thereto. The top chord 88 of the central portion of the bolster mrges"=with the top wall 58 of the bolster end along the diagonal portion.

The general shape and configuration of the bolster ends is best understood from a consideration of Figures 5, 6 and 7. It will be noted that approximately the top half of the bolster end is substantially wider than the lower portion thereof, the depth B of said widened portion as previously indicated being somewhat less than the distance A between the top of the guide flange 28 on the side frame column and the under face of the compression member 4 in order that the bolster may be raised and thereby released from cooperation with said side frame columns. The configuration of the lateral walls of the top portion of the bolster end is best seen in Figure 5,

, the bottom wall 84 and the side walls 88, 88 aresaid walls being complementary in form to the faces of the side frame columns against which they normally abut and each wall comprises the slots 12, I2 within which are received the triangular ribs- I4, 14 (Figure 9) of the insert or interlocking member 80, said ribs and slots thus forming an additional means of tying together the bolster end and the insert 88.

The detail structure of the interlocking member or insert. is shown in Figures 8 to 10, said member having the horizontal base 18 with the integrally formed upstanding end portions, the outer faces of said end portions having a conflguration complementary in form ,to the inner faces of the side frame columns previously described and comprising the spaced cylindrical portions I8, 18 with the intervening vertical channel 88 complementary in shape to the ver-. tical flange 28 of the side frame column. Formed in the top wall of said end portions of the insert are the openings 82,82 within which'may be received the lugs 84, 84, thus forming an additional interlocking means for the insert with the 2,188,841 1 My novel form of bolster is shownin detail in bolster end. Other openings, 88, 88 in the bottomwall 18 may cooperate witha-positioning lugs on the top spring plate. Thela'teral edges of the bottom wall 16 are concave as best shown at 88, 88 (Figure 8) and complementary to the shoulders 88, 90 which definethe lateral edges of the previously mentioned shallow transverse channel 29 formed in the bottom wall 84 of the bolster end. Vertical shoulders 92, 92 are also formed laterally on the bottom portion of the bolster end, said shoulders forming abutments as at 94, 94 for the end portions of the insert 38. I It will thus be observed that'in my novel truck structure I have provided a means of cooperation between the side frame andbolster which will permit the bolster end to be removed from the side frame opening without disturbing other parts of the truck assembly. In such an operation of my novel truck the bolster end will simply be raised until the widened portion of the bolster end clears the side frame column guides after which-the side frames may be moved outwardly to effect wheel change. At the same time, the insert 30 will normally remain seated on top of the spring group also interlocked with the side frame column guides as will be apparent, said member 30 .thus providing a substantial positioning means for the spring group in the course of such a wheel changeoperation. It may also be noted that the insert 38 is bisymmetrical in form and may be reversed end for end, thus facilitating assembly.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the invention shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a four wheel railway truck a truss-side frame having a bolster opening and guide 001- lateral shelves of approximately half the depth of said bolster end at the top thereof, an interlocking member having a base recessed in the bottom wall of said bolster, and vertical ends abutting said shelves, each of said vertical ends and said shelves having spaced aligned cylindrical faces complementary in form to said spaced surfaces, and aligned vertical channels on said shelves and said ends cooperating with said column flanges.

2. In afour wheel railway truck a truss side frame having a bolster opening and guide col-- umns presenting spaced cylindrical surfaces and centrally located vertical guide flanges, a bolster end projecting into said opening and having lateral shelves at the top thereof of complemen- 3. In a four wheel railway truck a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and guide columns defining the bolster opening, vertical flanges centrally located on said columns and spaced a substantial distance from the top of said opening, a bolster end projectog into said opening and having lateral shelves with vertical channels cooperating with said flanges respectively and an interlocking member havinga base recessed into the bottom wall of said bolster, and upstanding ends with vertical channels aligned with said before mentioned channels and cooperating with said flanges respectively, said columns presenting spaced vertical cylindrical surfaces and said shelves and said interlocking member presenting complementary aligned vertical spaced cylindrical faces cooperating with said surfaces, whereby said bolster end and said interlocking member ends may cooperate as a unit with said column surfaces.

4. In a four wheel truck a truss side frame having a bolster opening, and columns with vertical guide flanges centrally located thereon both vertically and laterally thereof, a bolster end projecting into said opening and having lateral shelves adjacent the top thereof, side walls and a bottom wall, slots at the junctures of said walls, and an interlocking member having a. base recessed in said bottom wall, upstanding ends and reinforcing ribs joining said base with said upstanding ends, said ribs being received respectively in said slots, said upstanding ends and said shelves engaging each other and presenting aligned vertical channels for cooperation with said guide flanges,-whereby said upstanding ends and said shelves cooperate as a unit with said guide flanges.

5. In a four wheel railway truck a truss side frame having a bolster opening and spaced columns, each of said columns having a centrally located vertical guide flange, a bolster end projecting into said opening and having lateral shelves adjacentthe top thereof, side walls with vertical shoulders and a bottom wall, an interlocking member having a base recessed in said bottom wall and upstanding end portions abutting said shoulders, said shelves and said end portions having aligned vertical channels which cooperate as a unit with said guide flanges, each of said shelves having means projecting into said adjacent upstanding end portion.

6. In a four wheelrailway truck a truss side frame having a bolster openingand spaced columns, each of said columns having a centrally located vertical guide flange, a bolster end projecting into said opening and having lateral shelves adjacent the top thereof, side walls with vertical shoulders and a bottom wall, and an interlocking member having a base recessed in said adjacent shelf, whereby the aligned areas on said bottom wall and upstanding end portions abutting said shoulders, said shelves and said end portions having aligned vertical channels cooperating as a unit with said guide flanges.

7; In a cast steel bolster of box'section, an end having laterally projecting shelves each presenting spaced cylindrical surfaces with an intervening channel, side walls with vertical shoulders, a bottom 'wall with a shallow recess, and a side frame interlocking. member having a base received in said recess and vertical end portions in abutment with said shoulders, each of said :end portions presenting spaced cylindrical faces and an intervening channel aligned with the before mentioned surfaces and channel of the bolster end and on said interlocking member said end and presenting areas aligned with said surfaces and said channel, said bolster end having a transverse slot wherein the base of said interlocking member is seated, the side walls of said bolster end having vertical shoulders abutting said interlocking member, and said shelves having means projecting into end portions of said interlocking member, said bolster end and interlocking member being so constructed and arranged as to permit their cooperation as a unit with an associated side frame column.

9.. In a four wheel railway truck a truss side frame having a bolster opening and guide columns presenting spaced cylindrical surfaces and centrally located vertical guide flanges, a bolster end projecting into said opening and having lateral shelves at the top thereof of complementary form with said columns, an interlocking member having a base recessed in the bottom wall of said bolster, and vertical ends abutting said shelves, said end and said shelves having spaced aligned cylindrical faces complementary in form to said spaced surfaces and aligned channels, whereby said end and said shelves may cooperate as a unit with said guide columns.

10. In a four wheel railway truck a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and guide columns defining the bolster". opening, vertical flanges centrally located on said columns both vertically and laterally thereof, a bolster end projecting into said opening and having lateral shelves with vertical channels cooperating with said flanges respectively and an inter- 11. In a cast steel bolster of box section, an

end having laterally projecting shelves each presenting spaced cylindrical surfaces with an intervening channel, side walls with vertical shoulders, a bottom wall with a shallow recess, and a side frame interlocking member having a base received in said recess and upstanding ends, each of said ends presenting spaced cylindrical faces in alignment respectively with said spaced cylindrical surfaces, and channels between said faces and in alignment 'with said before mentioned channels, whereby said interlocking member and said bolster end may cooperate as a unit with the guide columns of an associated side frame.

12. In a four wheel railway truck, a side frame having guide columns, and a bolster opening, a bolster end projecting into said opening, guide flanges on said columns, said guide flanges being centrally located on said columns both vertically and laterally thereof and spaced from the top and bottom of said opening to permit the insertion of said bolster end thereabove and an associated interlocking member therebelow, said bolster-end having a widened top portion with vertical channels cooperating with said flanges and right ends abutting said widened bolster portion flanges on said columns, channels on said widand presenting channels in alignment'with the said bolster end and saidint'erlocking member cooperate as a unit with said columns.

13. In a four; wheel railway truck, a side frame.

having spaced columns defining a bolster opening, vertical guide flanges on said columns centrally thereof, a bolster end projecting into said opening and presenting a widened top portion having vertical channels cooperating with said flanges and otherwise complementary in form to the guide faces of said columns, said guide faces and flanges being so spaced with respect to the top of said opening as to permit the insertion of said widened top portion thereabove and an interlocking member therebelow, said interlocking member having upright ends underlying said upper bolster portion and in engagement therewith, said upright endspresenting vertical channels in alignment with said before mentioned channels and surfaces otherwise complementary in form to the guide faces of said columns, said bolster end and said interlocking member cooperating as a unit with the guide faces of said columns.

14. In a four wheel railway truck, a side frame having spaced column guides defining a bolster opening,a bolster end projecting through said opening and having approximately the top-half thereof widened to form lateral shelves, guide flanges on said columns spaced from the top of said opening to permit the insertion thereabove of said widened half, channels on said widened portions cooperating with said guide flanges, and an interlocking member having its ends seated against said shelves and presenting channels in alignment with said before mentioned channels, said bolster end and said interlocking member cooperating as a unit with said guide columns under normal operating conditions, said interlocking member being insertable into said opening below said flanges and retained in position in cooperation therewith'by an associated spring group.

15. In a, four wheel railway truck, a side frame having spaced column guides defining a bolster opening, a bolster end projecting through said opening and having approximately the top half thereof widened to form lateral shelves, guide ened portions cooperating with said guide flanges, and an interlocking member having its ends seated against said shelves and presenting channels in alignment with said before mentioned channels 'to cooperate also with said flanges, said guide flanges being spaced from the tops of said columns a distance approximately equal to the depth of said shelves, whereby said bolster end may be elevated from said interlocking member and disengaged from said guide flanges while said interlocking member remains in normal operating position. V I

16. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and spaced guide columns forming therebetwen a bolster opening, guide flanges centrally located on said columns and spaced from said compression member, a bolster end projectmember presenting aligned channelsfor cooperation with said guide flanges and being otherwise of complementary form with the guide faces of said columns and thus cooperable as a unit therewith, said parts being so constructed and arranged that said bolster end may-be elevated above said flanges and disengaged therefrom while said interlocking member remains in normal operative position.

17. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss side -frame having a compression member, a tension member, and spaced guide columns formingv therebetween a bolster opening, guide flanges on said columns, a spring seat on said tension member beneath said opening, a spring group on said spring seat, an interlocking member seated on said spring group with end portions presenting vertical channels for cooperation with said vertical flanges, and a bolster end projecting into said opening and seated on said interlocking member,

said bolster end having a widened topportion forming lateral shelves having cooperation with said end portions and presenting channels in alignment with said before mentioned channels, said guide flanges on said columns being spaced from the tops of said openings to permit the in sertion thereabove of said widened top portion,

said bolster shelf portions and said interlocking member end portions cooperating as a unit with the guide portions of said columns.

a 18. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss side frame having a tension member, acompression member, and spaced columns forming therebe- -tween a window opening, guide flanges on said columns, a spring seat on said tension memberguide flanges being spaced from the top of said.

opening to permit insertion thereabove of said widened top portion. 7

-19. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss side frame having a tension member, a compression member, and spaced columns forming therebetween a window opening, guide flangeson said columns, a spring seat on said tension member beneath said opening, resilient means seated thereon, an interlocking member positioned on said resilient means and presenting upstanding end portions with vertical channels in cooperation with said flanges, and a bolster end projecting into said opening and seated on said interlocking member, said bolster end having a widened top portion forming lateral shelves overlying said upstanding ends and presenting.

channels in alignment with said before mentioned channels, whereby said interlocking member and said bolster end may cooperate as a unit with the guide faces of said columns, said guide flanges being spaced from said compression memher a distance approximately equal to the depth of said shelves, whereby said bolster may be raised and disengaged from said flanges while said interlocking-member remains in normal op-' .erative position in engagement with-said flanges.

' 20. In a'four wheel railway truck a bolster of box section having an end with lateral shelves plementary form therewith, said end portions having abutment with said shoulders and said shelves and having guide surfaces similar to and in alignment with said before mentioned guide surfaces, whereby said shelves'and said end portions may cooperate as 'a'unit with-the guide columns of an associatedside-frame.

21. In a cast steel bolster of general box section, an end portionhaving laterally projecting shelves with guide surfaces comprisingan armate surfaceinterrupted by a-vertical channel, a

bottom wall, and sidewalls, said bottom wallhaving a shallow transverse channel for cooperation with the base of an associated side frame interlocking member, said side walls having shoulders for. abutment of said interlocking member, and said shelves having means projecting into said member, said interlocking member presenting' guide surfaces similar in form to said before mentioned guide surfaces, whereby said shelves and said interlocking member may cooperate as a unit with the guide columns of an associated side frame.

22; In a cast steel bolster of box section, an end having laterally projecting shelves with guiding areas each presenting spaced cylindrical surfaces with an intervening channel,side walls with vertical shoulders, a bottom wall with a shallow recess, and a side frame interlocking member having a base received in said recess and vertical end portions in abutment with said shoulders, said member presenting guide faces similar in form to said before mentioned guiding .areas, whereby aid shelves and said end por- -member presenting end portions with guide surfaces similar in form to said guide means, whereby said interlocking member and said bolster end portion may cooperate as a unit with the guide columns of an associated side frame.

24. In a four wheel railway truck a bolster having an end portion, and shelf-like means projecting laterally from said-portion, each of said means comprising a convex cylindrical wall interrupted by a vertical channel, an interlocking member cooperating at its opposite ends with said shelf-like means and presenting walls and channels aligned with said before mentioned walls and channels, whereby said shelf-like means and said member may cooperate as a unit with the guide columns of an associated side frame.

'25. In a four wheel railway truck, a side frame having a compression member, a tension membet and spaced columnsdeflning a bolster opening, guide surfaces centrally located on said columns each in the form of an arcuate area interrupted by a vertical flange, a bolster end having a widened top portion insertable into said opening above said flanges and presenting channels cooperating therewith, and arcuate faces on said portion complementary in form to said before mentionedareas and in cooperation therewith, and an interlocking member having a base recessed in the bottom wall of said bolster end and upstanding ends abutting said widened end portion, said interlocking member presenting channels in alignment with the channels of said bolster end and in cooperation with the flanges of said columns.

26.-In a railway car truck, aside frame having a bolster opening with columns at opposite sides thereof, guide means centrally located on said columns in the form of concave walls with central vertical flanges, a bolster end comprising a widened. top portion insertable into said having convex lateral walls of complementary form with said before mentioned walls interrupted by vertical channels, and an interlocking memher having a base recessed in the bottom wall of said bolster and upstanding end portions abutting the widened portions of said bolster, said interlocking member having guide surfaces similar to the guide surfaces of said bolster and cooperating as a unit therewith against the guide means on said columns.

27. In a railway-car truck, a side frame having a compression member, a tension member and spaced columns forming a bolster opening, said tension member beneath said opening having a shallow box section with upstanding flanges forming a spring seat, spring means thereon, said columns 'having guide means centrally located thereon and spaced from the top and bottom of said opening, said guide means each comprising a concave cylindrical wall with a vertical flange, a bolster end comprising a widened top portion insertable into said opening above said flanges and presenting guide surfaces in the form of convex cylindrical walls and vertical channels cooperating with said guide means, and an interlocking member insertable into said opening below said guide means and seated on said spring means in cooperation with said bolster end, said interlocking member presenting guide surfaces similar in form to said bolster guide surfaces and co.- operating therewith as a unit against said guide means.

28. In a four wheel railway truck, a side frame having a bolster opening with guide columns at opposite sides thereof, guide means centrally located on said columns, said guide means being spaced from the top of said opening and each presenting a concave cylindrical surface interrupted by a, central vertical flange, a bolster end projecting into said opening and having a widened top portion insertable into said opening above said guide means, said top portion presenting guide surfaces in the form of convex cylindrical walls interrupted by vertical channels cooperating with said before mentioned walls and flanges, and an interlocking member presenting end portions in alignment with thewidened portion of said bolster end and cooperating as a unit with said bolster agaist said guide means.

ROBERT B. 

